Shopping for a wedding gown should be as enjoyable as possible, but determining which styles will flatter your body type in person and not just look fabulous in Pinterest photos is easier said than done. So we've teamed up with Yukia Walker and Yuneisia Harris, the owners of Curvaceous Couture, a first-of-its-kind bridal salon that specializes in gowns that fit women of ALL shapes and sizes. Here, the style pros (and sisters!) share their favorite dress picks for full-figured brides.
"This vintage-inspired Mori Lee gown is a beautiful choice for a pear-shaped bride. The high neck and cap sleeves will balance out fuller hips."
Photo courtesy of designer
"This stunner by Roz La Kelin is ideal for busty brides. The flattering A-line silhouette lengthens the torso, and the straps and structure will provide plenty of support, not to mention all that dazzling sparkle!"
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"This Allure Bridals gown has a wonderfully structured bodice and a fun, dramatic skirt. It's perfect for a bride who wants to show off her hourglass figure, and the figure-flattering ruching throughout camouflages any perceived imperfections."
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"If you're petite or pear-shaped, consider this lacy sheath by Mori Lee. The allover lace and slim silhouette help to create the illusion of height, and the wide straps will balance out a heavier bottom."
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"Peplums like this Roz La Kelin style add definition at the waist and balance out the hips, making it a fabulous choice for hourglass figures or apple-shaped brides."
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"This Allure Bridals dress is built for the bride who knows she’s got curves and wants to flaunt them! In addition to its figure-hugging silhouette, you'll love how comfortable and lightweight it is."
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"Pear-shaped brides, try this Maggie Sottero dress on for size. The straps add balance to narrow shoulders, and the full swing of the A-line skirt disguises wide hips."
Photo courtesy of designer
"For top-heavy or apple-shaped brides, this Bonny Bridal gown provides balance with its flared A-line skirt and also supports a full bust thanks to its wider straps."
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"Some pear-shaped brides can benefit from a ball gown, as it emphasizes a small waist and hides everything underneath its dreamy, full skirt. You’ll float down the aisle in this romantic style from Wtoo."
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"A soft chiffon blouson sheath, such as this style by Callista, is perfect for the statuesque bride who is on-trend. This statement gown certainly won’t be forgotten!"
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"When your waist is your smallest point, defining it can be very flattering. That’s what makes this Mori Lee ball gown so timeless — it narrows the waist like a 1950’s evening gown."
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"When you’re petite, you generally want to find clothing that has as few 'break-ups' as possible, as they can shorten you even further. Try this glimmering Roz La Kelin sheath if you're 5’3" or under."
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"This Allure Bridals dress exudes timeless elegance. Ruching is always flattering, and the full skirt adds to the illusion of a narrow waist. Add the luxurious beaded cap sleeves and the fun pockets, and this dress is a winner regardless of your shape."
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"When the word you’re looking for is 'sweet,' consider this A-line gown from Maggie Sottero. The lace is super soft, and the silhouette is as feminine as can be. Bonus: It comes in blush!"
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"If you’re looking for more of a red-carpet look rather than a princess feel, consider a ruched chiffon sheath like this style from Bonny Bridal. The ruching is universally flattering and the straps offer coverage and support."
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"Column-shaped brides can pull off this dreamy gown from Wtoo featuring a plunging neckline with a nipped-in waist, which creates definition. I would recommend it for brides who have a C-cup or lower since there isn't enough material to support a large bust."
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"The corset back and ruched dropped waist bodice on this Callista gown creates the illusion of the perfect hourglass shape. Combined with the A-line skirt, the effect is nothing less than breathtaking."
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"Accentuate an hourglass shape with a dramatic fit-and-flare gown. This gorgeous dress by Mori Lee has beadwork and ruching in all the right places to flatter any figure!"
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"This Roz La Kelin gown is flattering for brides with longer torsos, as it will showcase that length and make them appear taller. The higher neckline and high back can also help support a full bust."
Photo courtesy of designer
"This princess-worthy ball gown by Allure Bridals is ideal for any bride who wants to define her waist; it works well for an hourglass, pear, or even column shape."
Photo courtesy of designer
"For brides who are more column-shaped, a soft A-line silhouette can help create the illusion of a narrow waistline, like this Maggie Sottero style. But big busts beware! Dresses with low backs do best with C-cups or below."
Photo courtesy of designer
"This Bonny Bridal dress is perfect for bustier brides who aren’t looking for straps. The dropped waist has great support and creates the perfect bust-waist-hip ratio while the large ball gown skirt narrows the waist even further and evokes drama."
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"Architectural taffeta provides stellar support in this fit-and-flare from Wtoo’s Curve line. The floral texture on the train adds a feminine touch — great for brides who feel boxy or broad in the shoulders."
Photo courtesy of designer
"This Callista dress has it all: ruching, an A-line silhouette, and gorgeous beading. I would be hard-pressed to find a bride this dress didn’t flatter!"
Photo courtesy of designer
The number-one piece of advice that Yukia and Yuneisia give to all of their clients is to plan (and budget) for alterations. "A lot of brides don't realize that wedding gowns don't fit like off-the-rack clothes do. Wedding gowns are built according to a size chart that doesn't match up to a bride's measurements perfectly. Alterations are required to nip and smooth them out to create a flawless, tailored look."
Photo courtesy of designer
"For brides who carry most of their weight on the front of their torsos, a ball gown that nips in at the natural waist is a great option, such as this Callista style. It narrows the smallest part of the body while simultaneously disguising anything beneath the waist."
Photo courtesy of designer
Photo Credit: Rebecca Cerasani
Tip of the Day: Give your bridesmaids an extra-special job for the ceremony: have them hold up secret handwritten notes for the groom before you march down the aisle!
Plus, find out Which Dress Styles Are Best for Your Bridesmaids.
Bridal Guide has featured innumerable honeymoon havens throughout the years; here, we've compiled some of our all-time favorites in the Caribbean, Mexico, United States, Europe, the South Pacific, and beyond. From standout activities and butler service to personal pools and jaw-dropping scenery, there's a resort to fit every couple's personality.
It’s hard not to have fun at the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Splash poolside (love those water slides and underwater tunes piped in), dine in one of 10 restaurants, including a steakhouse, and party on in the club and casino. There are even guitar rentals for the rock ‘n rollers (room rates start at $200 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; hardrockhotelpuntacana.com).
Photo courtesy of the All Inclusive Collection
Occupying a central spot on famed Seven Mile Beach, the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort offers modern guest rooms, four restaurants, an array of water sports, a full-service spa, as well as an eco-feature you’ve got to check out: an installation of 300 or so coral-growing “reef balls” that draw many a marine creature to the local snorkel zone (room rates start at $203 a night; marriott.com).
Photo courtesy of Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
At the elegant, all-suite Grace Bay Club enjoy a frothy piña colada at the open-air Infiniti Bar, seared foie gras with grilled mango in the Anacaona restaurant and a frangipani body wrap in the Anani Spa. It's hard to compete with Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos, one of the Caribbean's most celebrated strands with aqua water and powder-soft sand, but this eye-catching infinity pool comes pretty close. Book into the adults-only area for a more romantic experience. Bonus: The rooms have ocean views (room rates start at $995 a night; gracebayresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Grace Bay Club
The Exumas chain, a grouping of unspoiled powder sand cays and islets of the Out Islands of the Bahamas, is home to innumerable private escapes. Fowl Cay Resort offers just six guest villas with all the pampering that honeymooners seek. Three sparkling sand beaches ring the private island resort. Each offers a host of activities, from sailing, kayaking and picnicking to just marveling at the spectacular natural surroundings (room rates start at $1,515 a night and are all-inclusive; fowlcay.com).
Photo courtesy of Fowl Cay Resort
Caneel Bay Resort began life in 1956 as a Laurance Rockefeller property and has lured endless bold-face names — the Jolie-Pitt clan, for example — ever since. They come as much for the nature (Rockefeller created a 5,000-acre conservancy that grew into a national park) as for the luxury, and the dual draws coexist quite happily, whether in the form of donkeys and deer that graze on the grounds or dolphins that leap on cue while you’re having sundowners on your deck (room rates start at $480 a night; caneelbay.com).
Photo courtesy of Caneel Bay Resort
Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts is one of Aruba's most romantic hotels. This eco-conscious, 104-room resort only accepts guests aged 18 and over, making it ideal for honeymooners. There’s not a bad room on property, but the Tara Suites are best positioned, with cushy bedrooms that face the ocean and separate living areas. Sign up for their unique dine-around program that lets you sample various restaurants on and off property (room rates start at $331 a night and include breakfast; bucuti.com).
Photo courtesy of Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
Picture a jungle-cloaked volcanic peak — one of the island’s famed Pitons — that anchors a stretch of white sand and cerulean water, plus a cluster of 78 extremely private rooms, villas and bungalows with views of all of the above. Oh yeah, and butler service, plunge pools and chic interiors. But arguably the best part of Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, is the Rainforest Spa, with its treehouse treatment rooms and volcanically heated watsu pool for couples (room rates start at $800 a night; viceroyhotelsandresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort
Perched on a cliff with commanding views of pink sand and turquoise sea, The Crane Residential Resort is the oldest Barbadian hotel in continuous operation — or at least the central coral stone building is. Of course, there have been many updates since the property’s 1887 debut, and now you’ll find five restaurants, a spa and quite possibly the best Sunday gospel brunch you’ll ever encounter (room rates start at $227 a night; thecrane.com).
Photo courtesy of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Grenada is undergoing a major tourism push and it boasts some of the most unique beaches in the Caribbean. Sandals LaSource is the perfect mix of luxurious and laid-back: many of the rooms have butler service and private plunge pools and Jacuzzis, others have sultry outdoor bathtubs set on water-facing patios. The resort is home to nine restaurants, a spacious spa, several bars and a large watersports outpost (room rates start at $329 per person, per night and are all inclusive; sandals.com).
Photo courtesy of Sandals Resorts
After a walk along the crescent-shaped beach, take a nap in the hammock in your treehouse cottage at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, created by Laurence Rockefeller in 1964. In the evening, as gentle tradewinds blow, enjoy a romantic dinner of grilled lobster and mahi mahi in a coconut sauce at the alfresco Pavilion (room rates start at $450 a night; littledixbay.com).
Photo courtesy of Rosewood Little Dix Bay
The Regent Palms is big on indulgences — even the smallest rooms are a whopping 640 square feet with king-size four-poster beds. Then there’s the lake-sized, serpentine infinity pool, complete with underwater banquette seating at the poolside bar. A menu of on-site water sports beckons, as does the 25,000-foot spa (room rates start at $425 a night; regentpalmstci.com).
Photo Credit: Paradise Photography
Mix sexy and serene and you’ve got 156-room W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island, an oasis within an oasis (since Vieques, just a 20-minute flight from San Juan, is a little slice of island heaven all on its own). Divide your time between two nearly deserted beaches (Whisper Beach is, ahem, clothing optional), two pool areas, and your comfy, pillow-topped feather bed. Everything you need is on property, including Away Spa, an Alain Ducasse eatery, a water-sports complex and a car-rental outpost (room rates start at $289 a night; wvieques.com).
Photo courtesy of W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island
Cap Juluca is Anguilla's most iconic hotel, a striking display of white Moorish-style architecture fronting one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches. There’s tennis onsite and golf five minutes away, but most couples stick close to home, enjoying the water and retreating back to their umbrella-covered chairs when the sun gets too high. Come evening, reserve a table steps from the crashing waves at Pimm’s, set on a promontory that juts into the sea (room rates start at $495 a night; capjuluca.com).
Photo courtesy of Cap Juluca
Locally dubbed PSV, Petit St. Vincent is a private island resort that lies 40 miles south of St. Vincent in the Grenadines. PSV is designed for the vacationer with a discerning taste for luxury, with a world-class open-air spa, top-notch dining, and a dive center helmed by Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of the famed oceanographer). The island is home to 22 freestanding beachside cottages that come with bespoke butler service (room rates start at $1,100 a night and are all-inclusive; petitstvincent.com).
Photo Credit: Charles Carroll
If you want a vibe that sizzles long after the sun goes down, Aruba is the destination for you. The 368-room Occidental Grand Aruba on Palm Beach is in the center of the island’s party zone. Here, you’ll not only enjoy the hotel’s restaurants (six), bars (five), and casinos, but also easy access to area bars and casinos. Rooms feature contemporary decor and comfy beds (room rates start at $584 a night; occidentalhotels.com).
Photo Credit: Elite Island Resorts
With 83 rooms, suites and villas occupying 55 beachfront acres, La Samanna is the only hotel on this stretch of the island, so guests have full run of the beautiful beach. And while frolicking in the water is mandatory, the liquid turquoise is also worth taking in from a balcony hot tub. As the premiere address on the French-speaking side of the island, the place has a gastronomic rep to maintain. Book a private dinner in La Cave, the resort’s 12,000-bottle wine cellar (room rates start at $800 a night; lasamanna.com).
Photo courtesy of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.
Lackadaisical luxury and shoeless sophistication reign at family-owned Jake’s Treasure Beach Hotel, an enclave of brightly colored, thatched-roofed cottages and villas perched at water’s edge. Touted as the real Jamaica, the affable hotel occupies a rambling beach on the island nation’s less-traveled southern side. The intimate resort helps embed you into local culture with bike rides through the countryside, chef-led dinners at local farms, yoga overlooking the sea and one-on-one fishing forays with expert guides (visit jakeshotel.com for more info).
Photo courtesy of Jake’s Treasure Beach Hotel
Paradise doesn’t come cheap, but for those who love nature and luxury equally, Jade Mountain in St. Lucia may be as close to heaven as a resort gets. Rooms have just three walls, with infinity pools that extend from inside the room to out. Designed around views of the Pitons, the suites bring the rainforest into the room (along with the occasional bird) and offer a sense of camping (wake with the sun, trade air-conditioning for breezes), albeit with high thread-count sheets (room rates start at $1,050 a night; jademountain.com).
Photo courtesy of Spa Jade Mountain
The Caribbean doesn't get more glam than on this French island, thanks to a slew of visiting celebrities such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Derek Jeter and Rachel Zoe. Le Guanahani is set on its own 18-acre peninsula by Marigot Bay, and it features 67 colorful, Creole-style cottages. Check out the pool scene at the beachfront restaurant Indigo and enjoy a variety of activities from tennis and kite surfing to paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkeling (room rates start at $390 a night and include breakfast; leguanahani.com).
Photo courtesy of Le Guanahani
The lagoon-style pool at Zöetry Agua Punta Cana with 51 luxury thatched-roof suites flows through lushly landscaped grounds offering plenty of private nooks. Rum tastings, cigar-rolling classes, yoga and four restaurants, such as the Dominican-inspired Amaya, round out the experience (room rates start at $528 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; zoetryresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Zöetry Wellness & Spa Resorts
The Atlantis boasts a Las Vegas-style casino, multiple bars and restaurants, and a lavish 141-acre waterpark with themed high-speed water slides and a mile-long lazy river. There are also lots of swimming pools, beaches and lagoons showcasing stingrays, sharks and every hue of tropical fish. Stay close to the fun but apart from the crowd by checking into The Cove, a hip resort-within-a-resort (room rates start at $959 a night; atlantis.com).
Photo courtesy of The Atlantis
Secrets Vallarta Bay is an adults-only, all-inclusive hotel with 271 suites, all with beach views and spa-like bathrooms. Cool factor: the resort is strolling distance to Vallarta’s vintage town center, where Richard Burton wooed Elizabeth Taylor on the art-studded Malecon promenade (room rates start at $295 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; secretsresorts.com).
Photo Credit: Secrets Resorts & Spas
Rosewood Mayakoba is known to brim at full occupancy almost every day of the year thanks to its posh digs, stellar service and award-winning, landscape-celebrating design. Each of the 130 chic suites boasts personal heated pools in a magical outdoor setting. If you choose to leave your sanctuary, there’s an award-winning restaurant, postcard-perfect stretch of beach and a cenote (limestone sinkhole) on property, in addition to water sports, a spa and fitness center (room rates start at $515 a night; rosewoodhotels.com).
Photo courtesy of Rosewood Mayakoba
Plenty of resorts have discos on offer, but few have the high-end, all-night, twerk-inducing, stylish outpost like Noir at Cancun’s luxe all-inclusive Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. The hip space has a sleek interior complete with cool VIP areas, premium drinks and an awesome lighting system. The sprawling beach resort also hosts big-name entertainers — we’re talking Shakira and Enrique Iglesias — for unforgettable oceanfront concerts (room rates start at $259 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; palaceresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Palace Resorts
Iberostar Playa Mita's prime location makes it the ideal place to enjoy local water-sports activities — longboarding, windsurfing, scuba diving and sea kayaking. The all-inclusive resort boasts five restaurants and eight different bars, plus around-the-clock room service. The 452 rooms are all equipped with balconies (room rates start at $242 a night and are all-inclusive; iberostarpuertovallarta.com).
Photo courtesy of Iberostar Playa Mita
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, one of Mexico’s most upscale all-inclusive resorts, features various environments from buzzy and pool-clubby to “do not disturb.” The hotel’s spacious Zen Grand Pool Suites, set amidst pristine jungle and lagoon lakes, are made for romance. They’re earthy and comfy, with patios and private plunge pools overlooking a jungly landscape of mangrove trees (room rates start at $695 a night and are all-inclusive; grandvelas.com).
Photo courtesy of Grand Velas Riviera Maya
If your idea of honeymoon bliss is decidedly grown-up — in-room Jacuzzis, showers for two and secluded hammocks — this 450-suite adults-only resort may be your ultimate romantic hideaway. Located just 20 minutes from Cancun’s lively hotel zone, Excellence Playa Mujeres features nine restaurants, eleven bars and a seriously indulgent spa, so everything two newlyweds could possibly want is easily at hand (room rates start at $396 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; excellence-resorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Excellence Playa, Mujeres
Of all the places across the globe that offer butler service One & Only Palmilla is a standout. Our personal attendant sensed exactly when he was needed and when we wanted to be left alone. Palmilla also has one of the only swimmable beaches in Cabo. The floating beds are secluded and ultra-romantic (room rates start at $585 a night; oneandonlyresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of One & Only Resorts
The 72-room Hotel El Ganzo is an intimate hideaway with a cool artsy vibe in San Jose's Puerto Los Cabos Marina. The property features airy modern rooms and suites individually accented by an artist's touch and live musical entertainment most nights. There's also a rooftop infinity pool and sushi bar, plus a private beach club and two additional restaurants, as well as an artist-in-residence program (room rates start at $213 a night; elganzo.com).
Photo courtesy of Hotel El Ganzo
The Resort at Paws Up, Montana boasts sweeping landscapes, a hefty dose of outdoor excursions, and Top Chef-crafted cuisine. Activities celebrate the surroundings with fly-fishing, cattle wrangling and whitewater rafting among the most popular. Lodgings include tented suites, which boast oversize tubs, sumptuous bedding and camp butler service (room rates start at $453 a night and are all-inclusive; pawsup.com).
Photo courtesy of The Resort at Paws Up
Set in the artsy Warehouse District and at the edge of the French Quarter, the new The Old 77 Hotel & Chandlery is perfectly positioned while still feeling charmingly quiet. Once a coffee warehouse, the 167-room hotel has a hip, modern feel with sleek furniture. The restaurant is helmed by Top Chef Nina Compton (room rates start at $109 a night; old77hotel.com).
Photos courtesy of The Old No. 77 Pages
Sedona has in recent decades become home to some of the country’s best resorts and spas, including the intimate L’Auberge de Sedona. Close to a host of nature-based activities like hiking, biking and off-road jeep tours, the resort is spread out over 11 acres on the banks of Oak Creek, where the slightly cooler temperatures allow for lots of outdoor settings, like a creekside fine dining restaurant, alfresco Verandah bar and open-air spa cabanas (room rates start at $295 a night; lauberge.com).
Photo courtesy of L’Auberge de Sedona
With its beachfront pool, golf, tennis, variety of restaurants, multiple bars and dune-facing balconied accommodations, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island would understand if you confused it with one of its Caribbean cousins. The luxurious hotel features the exquisite details expected from the Ritz-Carlton name, including high-thread-count linens, an array of activities and personalized service. Reserve a spot at the chef’s table at Salt, the signature eatery that features a dynamic menu that uses more than 40 types of salt from around the world (room rates start at $299 a night; ritzcarlton.com).
Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Portland, a seaport city in southern Maine, is also a great spot for gallery hopping and shopping and boasts an exciting food scene. The Inn by the Sea, a romantic and pet-friendly hotel in nearby Cape Elizabeth, is a perfect base camp from which to enjoy it all. Bonus: there’s a butterfly garden on property, as well as a rabbitrarium — a natural reserve for cottontail bunnies. Most rooms are equipped with fireplaces for those chilly Maine nights and have water views (room rates start at $219 a night; innbythesea.com).
Photo courtesy of Inn by the Sea
Ensconced in the misty foothills of eastern Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains sits Blackberry Farm, an idyllic 62-room retreat robust with traditional southern hospitality. Activities abound across the property’s 4,200 pastoral acres. There’s fly-fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and hiking, as well as clay shooting, cycling and rock climbing. Most of the food is sourced right from the working farm, and the hotel's cooking school is understandably a big draw (room rates start at $895 a night; blackberryfarm.com).
Photo Credit: Beall + Thomas Photography
Since its opening in 1998, the Bellagio, with its original Dale Chihuly glass works, Cirque du Soleil residence, world-renowned art museum and setting as one of the best heist movies ever Ocean’s Eleven has been The Strip’s high-end retreat. And thanks to a recent room renovation, the more than 3,000-room monolith now has a decidedly more hip vibe (room rates start at $159 a night; bellagio.com).
Photo courtesy of MGM Resorts International
When it comes to hotels, we prefer the heritage brands because hipness doesn’t get in the way of service. The SIXTY Beverly Hillsills, however, changed our outlook on that matter. The folks at the front desk are beyond attentive, the restaurant’s wait staff hunted down almond milk for my latte and did we mention the cool rooftop pool has views of the Hollywood sign? (room rates start at $350 a night; sixtyhotels.com).
Photo courtesy of Sixty Hotels
Skyscrapers, hotdog carts and people are just a few of the things that New York teems with. Add hotels to that equation. Of the more than 70,000 hotel rooms in the Big Apple, the rooms with the Central Park view at the Mandarin Oriental New York are among our favorites. They are spacious — especially for NYC — and have park vistas even from the bathtub! (room rates start at $750 a night; mandarinoriental.com).
Photo courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
The Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay charms with its secret hideaway feel and pampering amenities. The only way to describe waking in the morning and being greeted by endless pods of spinner dolphins at the cove beach is magical (room rates start at $800 a night; fourseasons.com).
Photo courtesy of the Four Seasons Manele Bay
With over 1,350 acres of lava-borne paradise to explore, Hilton Waikoloa Village’s endless landscape creates the illusion of seclusion, even when it’s filled to capacity. Romance awaits at every turn where you least expect it; enjoy “waikoloa” (the name Hawaiians gave to the gentle winds of the region) in swaying hammocks by the beach; sunset-watch overlooking Buddha Point, where the day melts away in shades of pink, orange, and gold; or even steal a kiss from a squeaking bottlenose dolphin (rates start at $209; hiltonwaikoloavillage.com).
Photo courtesy of Hilton Waikoloa Village
Kauai is perfect for shaka (relaxing), especially the St. Regis Princeville, overlooking Hanalei Bay. Rooms have contemporary Hawaiian decor and peekaboo showers — with a flick of a switch they become clear or opaque for privacy. Here, even normal activities like lounging by the pool felt like an elevated experience. It’s no wonder it’s a favorite retreat of George Clooney! (room rates start at $1,200 a night and include breakfast; stregisprinceville.com).
Photos courtesy of The St. Regis Princeville Resort
The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is aloha (living in harmony) personified with a two-to-one guest to hotel staff ratio. One pampering perk: The pool’s hourly surprises — everything from popsicles to "shots" of aloe vera cream to Evian spritzes. The adults-only Serenity Pool features cabanas with their own TVs and an Instagram-ready view of Haleakala, Maui’s largest dormant volcano. Go in the fall for couples season promos like beer tastings, trunk shows and cooking classes (room rates start at $499 a night; fourseasons.com).
Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Maui
A bit removed from Waikiki’s tourist fray, The Modern Honolulu offers a chic refuge for guests with two stunning pools and in-house restaurant Morimoto Waikiki, helmed by James Beard Award-winning Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto (room rates start at $289 a night; themodernhonolulu.com).
Photo courtesy of The Modern Honolulu
Perched above the Bay of Naples in the center of historic Sorrento, the de facto starting point of the Amalfi Coast, the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is the perfect — and luxe — base for any Italian holiday. Family-owned for five generations, the 91-room grande dame has welcomed a litany of bold-faced names from Sophia Loren to Pavarotti (there’s a suite named for him). The bayview terrace is a fantastic spot for an aperitivo — cocktail and snack (room rates start at about $500 a night; exvitt.it).
Photos courtesy of Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
Portugal is home to wine regions, modern cities, cliffside castles, and endless beaches. For an authentic stay, spend some nights in a pousada. This collection of 36 unique hotels once owned by the state, and now under the flag of one of Portugal’s leading hospitality companies. A favorite hotel is the Pousada Santa Marinha da Costo, a former 12th-century Augustine monastery (room rates start at $90 a night and include breakfast; pousadas.pt).
Photo Credit: Pousadas de Portugal
Greece is truly a destination for everyone, offering delectable cuisine, breathtaking natural views, secret beaches and architectural wonders. Oia, a village defined by its blue-roofed churches and Cyclades-style architecture, is a must-visit for honeymooners. Check into the intimate, cave-like Mystique Resort, a Luxury Collection Hotel, which hovers above the sea and faces a volcano (room rates start at about $592 a night; luxurycollection.com).
Photo courtesy of Iconic Santorini Images
Ireland’s scenic beauty is the stuff of legend: cool morning mists, a verdant countryside dotted with farms and cottages and winding roads that lead to centuries-old villages. With its magnificent manor-like architecture, the five-star 205-room Lodge at Doonbeg is a grand country estate where every guest is royally treated. The surrounding landscape is breathtaking — sand dunes, rolling waves and a Greg Norman-designed golf course that embraces the area’s natural beauty (room rates start at about $195 a night; doonbeglodge.com).
Photo courtesy of The Lodge at Doonbeg
With a spectacular coastline, charming hilltop towns, world-class food and wine along with plenty of style, it’s no wonder Croatia has emerged as one of the world’s most popular wallet-friendly vacation spots. Set about three miles from Old Town, the 308-room Hotel Dubrovnik Palace is spread out on a picturesque peninsula, with views of the outlying Elafite Islands. You’ll get a taste of the Adriatic life here thanks to the private beach, PADI diving center, three outdoor pools and scenic walking paths (room rates start at about $230 a night and include breakfast and WiFi; alh.hr).
Photo courtesy of Adriatic Luxury Hotels
Set southeast of mainland France, near the Ligurian coast of Italy, the island of Corsica is known for its charming citadel towns, sandy beaches, seaside resorts and pretty mountains. Check into the seafront La Signoria, an 18th-century Genoese estate-turned-hotel with acres of gardens, a gourmet restaurant and 28 individually designed rooms (room rates start at about $200 a night; hotel-la-signoria.com).
Photo courtesy of Relais & Chateaux
Taormina is a historic resort town on Sicily's east coast, set on the cliffs of Mount Tauro and the Ionian Sea. Split your stay between Grand Hotel Timeo, a hilltop legend with a gorgeous terrace and gardens, and its sister Villa Sant’Andrea, a former nobleman’s home with a private beach and up-close bay views. Both offer experiences like wine tours and picnics in vintage Fiat 500s, helicopter rides over Mount Etna and sunset champagne cruises (room rates start at about $340 a night; grandhoteltimeo.com and hotelvillasantandrea.com).
Photo courtesy of Grand Hotel Timeo
Since its opening in 1898, countless royals, tycoons, artists, celebrities and plain ole visitors have stayed at The Ritz Paris, which Sophia Loren once dubbed "the most romantic hotel in the world." It has long epitomized elegance, privacy and understated glamour. The 142-room icon recently underwent a top-to-toe renovation. Though modern touches and conveniences were added, the spirit of The Ritz remains the same, thanks to restored furnishings and artwork, and the work of dozens of skilled artisans (visit ritzparis.com for more info).
Photo Credit: The Ritz Paris
There are few places on the planet that are as celebrated for their party scene as the island of Ibiza. Spain’s tiny, sun-drenched Mediterranean isle welcomes party people, from the A-list to regular Joes, every summer. And the rockin’ day fiesta at the hip Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel is one of its marquee events. The pool party has world-renowned DJs (think David Guetta and Avicii), Bali beds, swaying palms and a sprawling outdoor dance floor (room rates start at about $390 a night; ushuaiabeachhotel.com).
Photo courtesy of Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel
With custom-made furnishings, plush amenities and views of a flower-filled courtyard, the Tuscan countryside or the city of Florence, every room at Belmond Villa San Michele — a former monastery — is memorable. But for sheer honeymoon romance, nothing beats the Michelangelo Suite. Stretching the entire front of the original building, this one-bedroom suite was once the monastery’s library, then later, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s Florentine headquarters (room rates start at about $585 a night and include breakfast; belmond.com).
Photo courtesy of Belmond
Sun, sand, culture and charm — Cartagena has all the makings of a romantic must-visit destination. There’s an enchanting walled Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where the cobblestone streets are lined with trendy shops, relaxed bars and restaurants, both gourmet and traditional. There are also plenty of beaches outside of the Old Town area and boat rides are available to the sandy islands just off the coast. Stay at the Occidental Grand Cartagena for a best-of-both-worlds base camp (room rates start at $109 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; occidentalhotels.com).
Photo courtesy of A Proexport Colombia
In the past five years, Nicaragua has experienced a boom in hospitality thanks to its dollar-friendliness, safety and excellent lodging options. We love its natural beauty, welcoming people and fantastic coffee and food (did someone say ceviche?). We stayed at the coolest little boutique hotel: Tribal Hotel, a collection of just six guest rooms set around a leafy inner courtyard with a pretty pool. Rooms are breezy and comfortable with private outdoor space that’s curtained and perfect for enjoying that famous Nica coffee or an ice-cold beer (room rates start at $125 a night and include breakfast: tribal-hotel.com).
Photo courtesy of The Tribal Hotel
Bali is sun-drenched with snow-white beaches, picturesque villages shadowed by towering volcanoes and monkeys as frisky as naughty children. At Ayana Resort & Spa you’ll no doubt experience the best couple’s spa treatment of your life. With the waves as your serenade, bask in the two-and-half-hour diamond miracle, which includes a bath awash with the petals from 500 organic roses. A massage with elements of pearl, silk and pure diamond dust add to the allure (room rates start at about $235 a night; ayanaresort.com).
Photo courtesy of Ayana Resort & Spa
Guatemala features cool colonial sites, cities of Mayan ruins, and some of the best coffee on the planet. Check into Casa Palopó and you’ll enjoy uninterrupted lake views from pretty much every possible perch including the sun-drenched terraces, colonial-inspired restaurant, and even your bed! The intimate hotel delivers impeccable service, fantastic locally sourced cuisine and customized experiences for every guest (room rates start at $154 a night and include breakfast; casapalopo.com).
Photo courtesy of Casa Palopó
This may be the most unusual hotel hideaway where you’ll ever stay. Deep within one of Cappadocia’s distinctive ochre mountains, the Museum Hotel is comprised of a labyrinth of cozy subterranean chambers. Watch out for the peacocks or tortoises on the cobbled pathways that lead to the open-air lobby, where you can curl up with a cocktail and watch the sun set over the “fairy chimneys” (rock formations). Early birds will want to perch on the terrace to see the festival of hot-air balloons at dawn (room rates start at $305 a night and include breakfast; museum-hotel.com).
Photo Credit: The Museum Hotel
New Zealand is a real world fantasyland on earth. Book into is a real world fantasyland on earth. Book into Blanket Bay, which offers helitouring the Southern Alps, boating along the waterways and more onsite. And the greatest hits of nearby Queenstown — bungee jumping, canyon swinging, river surfing and whitewater rafting — are rarely more than a half hour away. Caveat: during the curvaceous, hilly, shore-hugging drive back, you’ll swear that each new combo of water, mountain, mist and sky is the most magical you’ve ever seen (room rates start at $865 a night; blanketbay.com).
Photo courtesy of Blanket Bay Resort
The largest island group in the South Pacific in terms of both population and land area, Fiji is an eclectic destination with resorts and activities that appeal to just about every vacation taste. Yasawa Island Resort & Spa is a family-run resort featuring 18 thatched bures (villas) set around an infinity pool or scattered along a palm-fringed beach. From fresh lobster to mango panna cotta, the food is superb, especially when you consider the remoteness of the location (room rates start at $800 a night and are all-inclusive; yasawa.com).
Photo courtesy of Yasawa Island Resort & Spa
Located about halfway between Fiji and Tahiti, the Cook Islands are for couples seeking the untainted and undiscovered South Pacific. A seductive, swept-away vibe prevails at Manuia Beach Resort on the west side of Rarotonga. Set along the edge of the beach and amid tropical gardens, the resort’s 24 thatched-roof bungalows blend barefoot island amenities like outdoor showers and modern creature comforts like Ipod docks, wireless internet and comfy beds. Grab a mask, fins and snorkel and wade into the adjacent lagoon to spy all sorts of tropical fish (room rates start at about $330 a night; manuia.co.ck).
Photo courtesy of Cook Island Tourism Corporation
In the island nation of The Seychelles, you are guaranteed a postcard-perfect tropical paradise — stunning beaches, clear waters — along with a relaxed charm missing from some of the more over-developed hot spots. The Raffles Praslin resort features 86 cliffside villas, each with private decks, plunge pools and butler service; many overlook the ocean and private beach where you can snorkel and stand-up paddleboard. There’s also a 13-villa spa offering an island-inspired menu (room rates start at $716 a night; raffles.com).
Photo courtesy of Raffles Praslin Seychelles
History, culture, food, beaches — Vietnam shares many of the same attributes as Thailand, minus the crowds and with more bang for your buck. Split your stay between city sites and the beach. In Hanoi, the Sofitel Legend Metropole, built in 1901 has hosted everyone from Jane Fonda and John McCain to Mick Jagger. Rooms are spread over the colonial Metropole wing — with classic French-Asian furnishings and Vietnamese silks — and the modern Opera Wing (room rates start at $230 a night; sofitel.com).
Photo courtesy of Hotel Metropole
The biggest allure of the Galapagos Islands is the plethora of uber-rare animal and plant species. While cruising around the islands is wildly popular, for a high-end land experience you may want to set up camp on a single island. The eco-friendly Galapagos Safari Camp on Santa Cruz Island is one such rustic, luxe outpost, with just nine guest tents. Each breezy canvas structure comes equipped with all the fixings, including en-suite bathrooms and private patios with hammocks and Pacific Ocean views (room rates start at $535 a night and include breakfast and dinner; galapagossafaricamp.com).
Photo Credit: Galapagos Safari Camp
Costa Rica offers the best of both worlds for couples seeking romance and outdoor pursuits by land and by sea. Ensconced in the verdant rainforest at the edge of imposing Arenal Volcano is the gorgeous and ultra-romantic Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens. Just 50 bamboo-roofed bungalows, a luxe spa (request the open-air treatment room overlooking the jungle), two upscale restaurants (one authentic Costa Rican and the other Latin-inspired sushi) and the concept Nostalgia Wine Bar make up the rolling 15-acre property. Suites have hammocked terraces with a Jacuzzi for two, a four-poster mahogany bed positioned just so to afford rainforest views and outdoor showers (room rates start at $245; arenalnayara.com).
Photo Credit: Sergio Pucci
A dreamy island in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui has everything you could ever want in a honeymoon: endless miles of sugar sand beaches, a balmy climate and some culture to experience (think four-story gold statues of Buddha and Thai cooking classes). Consider booking into the sleek W Retreat Koh Samui. Set between the village of Bout and Maename Beach, the oceanfront retreat has all the modern amenities of its sister properties and isn’t too far from the local sites (room rates start at about $402 a night; starwoodhotels.com/whotels).
Photos courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
This Central American country may not be very far away (it’s just a three-hour flight from Miami), but its under-the-radar status helps make it a revelation for many U.S. travelers. With beaches, lively historic quarters and great food, Panama is about so much more than its famous canal (which, we must admit, is also cool). With nine main islands, 51 keys and hundreds of little islets dotted across the Chiriqui Lagoon, Bocas del Toro is off the beaten path. La Loma Jungle Lodge & Chocolate Farm on Isla Bastimentos, a 30-minute boat ride from Bocas Town, offers four open-air cabins, scattered among 57 acres of tropical forest overlooking Bahia Honda (room rates start at $90 per person and include meals; thejunglelodge.com).
Photo courtesy of VisitPanama
Guana Island in the British Virgin Islands has seven beaches, 850 acres and at full capacity, just 32 guests. Honeymooners have free unlimited access to the island’s sailboats, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, water skis, tennis courts, and 26 hiking trails. Each of the 19 private cottages and villas is totally and completely unplugged. Several have private swimming pools (room rates start at $695 and are all-inclusive: guana.com).
Photo courtesy of Guana Island
For an unforgettable honeymoon experience, book the Tree Hotel, which consists of individually designed and appointed suites suspended from enormous evergreen trees. The main area, the '50's-style Brittas Hostel, houses a wood sauna, bar, lounge and the family-style restaurant. As is expected given its architecture and remote location, the hotel functions at a highly eco-friendly efficiency. Seasonal activities that celebrate the natural surroundings are easily arranged by the innkeepers (room rates start at about $598 a night and include breakfast; treehotel.se).
Photo courtesy of Tree Hotel
Belize is one of the few places on earth where you can visit ancient Mayan temples, wander through a rainforest, chill on a white sand beach and swim along one of the largest reefs in the world. The earth-friendly Francis Ford Coppola Resorts properties offer tons of organic food and spa experiences. Area activities highlight the surrounding natural beauty. There’s hiking to the Pine Ridge Forest, a moonlight jaguar-spotting excursion and sunrise horseback riding (room rates start at $230 a night; coppolaresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola Resorts
Along with all the modern developments, Peru has plenty of history to explore, with sites from the days of the Incas and the Spanish Colonial period. And, of course, there’s that most famous outdoor treasure: Machu Picchu. Only one hotel—Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge—is at the site, and boasts views of the Citadel from the outdoor hot tub (room rates start at $825 a night; orient-express.com).
Photo Credit: Renzo Giraldo/ PromPeru
Argentines live life with passion and style—after all, this is the birthplace of tango. And there’s so much here to be passionate about: buzzing cities, gourmet food and wine, mellow cowboy retreats and a wealth of natural wonders. Mixing a French palace-style 1930s mansion with an ultra-chic modern interior, the stunning Palacio Duhua Park Hyatt hotel is a perfect reflection of the two sides of Buenos Aires. Don’t miss lunch on the terrace overlooking the gardens and courtyard, or decadent high tea in the salon, a ritual for haute porteños — Buenos Aires locals (room rates start at $430 a night; parkhyatt.com).
Photo courtesy of Park Hyatt Hotels
With such a bounty of topography, Chile entices with a wide range of excursions and experiences for every visitor. Valparaíso was once the most important port of Spain’s colonies. Today, the city is an interesting mix of college town, industrial marina area, and a seemingly endless maze of brightly colored buildings set into a mountainside. Casa Higueras boasts individually appointed rooms, many with balconies, a fine dining restaurant with fireplace and endless views of the port below (room rates start at $119 per person, per night and include breakfast; casahigueras.cl).
Photo courtesy of Casa Higueras
Also known as the “Red City” thanks to the color of the walls of the medina (old city), Marrakech in Morocco has long been popular with the jet set. Celebrated sites include the ornately tiled Saddian Tombs, the enormous town square at night—yes, there are snake charmers!—and gorgeous gardens. Located within walking distance to Menara Gardens, the Four Seasons Marrakech is a resort complex complete with spacious accommodations, multiple eateries, a glorious spa and beautiful pool area (room rates start at about $435; fourseasons.com).
Photo Credit: Dave Lewis
Park Hyatt Tokyo is a sleek combination of Western amenities (spacious guest rooms, oversize beds and marble soaking tubs) and Japanese sensibility—Zen modernist decor, local art and unbeatable views of Mt. Fuji. Public spaces, including the movie’s most shot spot, New York Bar, offer sweeping city views. At sunset, order a cocktail, listen to live jazz and watch as Tokyo’s skyline starts to twinkle with night lights. Aglow with paper lanterns, the hotel’s The Peak Bar offers a more traditional vantage point (room rates start at $553 a night; parkhyatt.com).
Photo Credit: Park Hyatt Tokyo
Mention the words “Miami” and “hotel” in the same sentence and you’ll hear Fontainebleau in return. A fixture since 1954, the splashy resort continues to entice the A-list with more than 1,500 luxury guest rooms, a bi-level spa, 12 restaurants and lounges, and LIV, one of the city’s hottest nightclubs, among other amenities. In addition to the thumping pool scene (complete with comfy VIP cabanas), a top see-and-be-seen hangout is Hakkasan, the modern Chinese fusion restaurant (room rates start at $369 a night; fontainebleau.com).
Photo Credit: Fontainebleau Miami Beach
The sultry rhythm and vibrant activities of Brazil are seductive. Get hot and sweaty on the golden sands of Copacabana Beach. Ride the cog train to the summit of Corcovado Peak and get your picture snapped beneath the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. At night continue the party at the beachfront Copacabana Palace. The hot spot has been the place to stay in romantic Rio since 1923—everyone from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the Rolling Stones have stayed here. Curl up with caipirinhas beside the pool or in one of the overstuffed chairs inside the posh Piano Bar. Gourmet Italian cuisine is the forte of the hotel’s stylish Cipriani Restaurant (room rates start at $435 a night; copacabanapalace.com).
Photo Credit: Emratur, The Brazil Tourism Board
The romance of Taj Rambagh Palace comes courtesy of its real life fairy tale story: built in 1835 for a beloved royal handmaiden, the lush property became the official residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur and his wife in 1925 — giving it the sort of Indian Downtown Abbey vibe that remains today. The estate was turned into a hotel in the 1950s, and over the decades, the palace has hosted international royals and stars (including Prince Charles and Jacqueline Kennedy). Many of the guest rooms have original touches, like hand-carved pillars and four-poster beds. Honeymooners are often treated to real storybook experiences, like a ride in a vintage car or a Maharaja-style welcome by painted elephants (visit tajhotels.com for more info).
Photo courtesy of Taj Hotels & Resorts
At Six Senses Yao Noi, a private island hideaway on Thailand’s Phanga Bay, each in-villa pool is flanked with a cabana and equipped with generous staff. This eco-friendly resort has a Thai boxing ring, a world-class, Ayurvedic spa, cooking classes, bikes for rent, endless expansive natural views and a big screen on the beach for nightly movies. But you’ll keep sneaking back to that pool. Take a selfie with the famous rocks, called karsts, popping up like jagged teeth in the sea behind you (room rates start at $597 a night; sixsenses.com).
Photo courtesy of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
The Mulia Resort & Villas in Bali is equipped with three distinguished hotels, 11 lavish pools and almost a dozen restaurants, but with the wealth of amenities and activities sprawled over 33 hectares, it manages to feel intimate and uncrowded. The best views are from the two-tiered infinity pool flanked by sets of oversized statues. Encompassing a gorgeous swim-up bar, swank floating cabanas, overwater lounge chairs and priceless views of the sea, the concept of infinity pool is taken to a whole other level here (visit themulia.com for more info).
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Photo courtesy of The Mulia Resorts & Villas
The couples-centric all-inclusive Sandals Resorts boast the most robust on-property selection of activities. All offer scuba and golf, in addition to unlimited water-and-land sports. We love the 245-room Sandals Emerald Bay not only for its romantic location on one of the Bahamas' prettiest islands, but also for the fact that it’s home to one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated golf courses, designed by Greg Norman (room rates start at $362 person, per night and are all-inclusive; sandals.com).
Photo courtesy of Sandals Emerald Bay
Thanks to its location in a private concession area overlooking the Sabaringo river and Oloololo escarpment (plateau), the AndBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp is able to take guests on traditional game drives in the national park, as well as on night drives, bush walks and other unique experiences on the private locale. Accommodations are perfectly positioned for excellent views of the large herds during migration season. We also love that, compared to most safari camps of this level, Kichwa’s base rates are relatively lower, so you can add on upgrades like hot air balloon rides, bush meals, sundowners and more (room rates start at about $400 per person and are all-inclusive; andbeyond.com).
Photo courtesy of AndBeyond
Inside a glittery, 52-floor high-rise whose open-air rooftop includes an intimate chapel, Andaz Tokyo merges traditional Japanese trademarks with ultra-modern flair. All 164 rooms and suites are spacious and sleek, with the sprawling city framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. Advanced technology is a highlight: rooms are equipped with remotes that control window shades; easy-to-connect Bose Bluetooth speakers for your laptop or Smartphone; speedy Wi-Fi and intuitive lighting system. Best of all? Every bathroom is equipped with the latest, high-end electronic toilets with a control pad (visit tokyo.andaz.hyatt.com for more info).
Photo courtesy of Andaz Tokyo
The Rockhouse is a 34-room sustainable boutique hotel built into the cliffs on the western edge of Jamaica. It has a gorgeous freshwater infinity pool overlooking the ocean, an award-winning spa and thatched-roof bungalows with open-air showers and four-poster beds topped with mosquito netting. A honeymoon here has a reggae soundtrack and a Red Stripe-infused energy. Spend the day getting a Blue Mountain coffee scrub in the spa or snorkeling in the reefs off the coast; then dine on jerk chicken and curried shrimp with papaya (room rates start at $95 a night; rockhousehotel.com).
Photo courtesy of Rockhouse
Punta Monterrey is a 12-villa resort located deep in the jungle and set right on the bank of a very private, sandy white beach. Once an exclusive enclave for family and friends for almost a decade, the property opened to the public last year. Hill-perched and beachside villas are truly rustic, yet all equipped with spacious balconies. Delectable home-cooked meals (with most produce and fruits from the on-site garden) are included in the wallet-friendly rate (room rates start at $80 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; monterreybeach.com).
Photo courtesy of Punta Monterrey
The Namale Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive enclave located on the edge of the Koro Sea. Each villa is unbelievably private, surrounded by lush, tropical foliage with unforgettable views of the sparkling blue sea. The five honeymoon bures have private plunge pools, spa tubs, showers-for-two and oceanfront decks. Intercoms are provided in every villa, and you can request just about anything—from room service to transportation to another spot on the resort (room rates at $975 per night, all-inclusive; namaleresort.com).
Photo courtesy of Namale Resort & Spa
Located a short flight from the capital of Manila, Borocay was for decades a weekend getaway spot for city-based Filipinos, until word of its beauty started spreading. Now, you’ll find visitors from all over the globe coming for the top-notch diving and kite boarding, the fun nightlife and white-powder beaches. The Shangri-La Boracay Resort and Spa's 219 suites and villas all face the crystal-clear waters of the Sibuyan Sea and are decorated with native Filipino materials and furnishings, such as tribal drums and glittery shell handicrafts. There are hammocks and beach beds to lounge on, a spa highlighting local ingredients, and a cliff-top bar where you can watch the sunset (room rates start at about $400 a night; shangri-la.com).
Photo courtesy of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Positioned just four hours from the international airport hub of Dubai is Asia’s smallest country, The Maldives, a far-flung collection of nearly 1,200 coral islands. The archipelago is so romantic and remote that it consistently beckons seclusion-seeking bold-faced vacationing couples. You too can live like an A-list adventure-seeker at Club Med Finolhu Villas, an adults-only, eco-chic property that’s entirely solar-powered. Each of the 52 guest villas features a sprawling deck, plunge pool, outdoor shower and Wi-Fi to upload all those FOMO-inducing Instagrams. Don’t miss a visit to the spa, where treatment rooms boast glass floors. It’s such a blissful experience that you may just for a moment find it hard to believe this is real life (room rates start at $692 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; clubmed.us).
Photo courtesy of Club Med Finolhu Villas
The picturesque Grand Del Mar in San Diego encompasses four pools, tennis courts, a chapel, 249 guest rooms and more. The spa, an epicenter of pampering, not only boasts an endless treatment menu, it also hosts yoga, Pilates and eco-walks across the property and hikes at the nearby nature reserve. And let’s not forget golf — the course is one of the most prized in the state. Accommodations either have fairway or pool views and are spacious enough for a king (room rates start at $395 a night; thegranddelmar.com).
Photo courtesy of The Grand del Mar
The Post Ranch Inn is the ultimate blend of rustic charm and sumptuous elegance. Accommodations here are exceedingly private and invite the natural surroundings in with oversize windows, enormous wooden decks and a comfortable sense of indoor/outdoor living. The hotel’s activity list also reflects the peaceful setting with complimentary yoga, meditation and hiking sessions, as well as stargazing excursions. In whale season (the month of March), there are breakfast viewing parties with mimosas (room rates start at $595 a night and include breakfast and complimentary mini-bar; postranchinn.com).
Photo Credit: Kodiak Greenwood
Tanzania has a plethora of wildlife, cultural sites and amazing hotels. Tanzania is also home to the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera — a volcano that collapsed into itself. Stay at the luxe AndBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, which sits on the crater rim and offers jaw-dropping vistas. During meals, staff often sing and dance to celebrate special occasions like honeymoons (room rates start at $1,000 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; andbeyond.com).
Photo courtesy of AndBeyond
Cotswald is an area in west central England with gently sloping green hills punctuated by babbling brooks, wildflower gardens and historic stone buildings. Enjoy a romantic getaway in a cozy manor-house setting at Ellenborough Park. The quiet stone hideaway has all the trappings of a traditional country home, including individually appointed rooms, seemingly endless English-style gardens, cozy sitting areas and, of course, afternoon tea. Some rooms have fireplaces, claw-foot tubs or four-poster beds. Art galleries and antique shops can also be found throughout the pretty villages of the Cotswolds (room rates start at $286 a night and include breakfast; ellenboroughpark.com).
Photo courtesy of Ellenborough Park
Set on 600 rolling acres, the JW Marriott, San Antonio Resort & Spa encompasses all of the charms and comforts of Texas Hill Country. The enormous resort features more than 1,000 guest accommodations stretched across a series of low-slung, sand-colored buildings that overlook flowering grounds, a variety of streams and the pretty Cibolo Canyons. Each is decorated in a mix of country and contemporary style with carved-wood furnishings, rich leather pieces and vibrant colors. At the hotel’s restaurants, you can also savor the expansive views, as well as the local cuisine. The main eatery, Cibolo Moon, offers such dishes as smoked green chile queso and smoked baby-back ribs, served alongside wine on tap (room rates start at $349 a night; jwsanantonio.com).
Photo courtesy of the JW Marriott San Antonio Resort & Spa
Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is a postcard-perfect enclave of 120 bungalows and overwater villas set on a private island that’s accessible only via the hotel’s yacht. All resort guests enjoy the pampering service for which the hotel group is so lauded in a paradise-on-earth setting. Activities are laid back with yoga on the beach, motu (coral islet) picnics and jetskiing around the island of Bora Bora among the most popular. But perhaps one of the most alluring activities is jumping off the private teak balcony of your overwater villa into the crystalline water (room rates start at about $980 a night; fourseasons.com).
Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
On the grand Kurfürstendamm boulevard, Hotel Zoo is the official VIP hotel of the Berlin International Film Festival. Guests are welcomed with a jade-colored carpet by Diane von Fürstenberg, with black and white crouching leopards woven into it. Rooms offer city views, fine-art fashion prints by photographer Andreas Kock and a custom nail polish created especially for the hotel by trendy Berlin brand Uslu Airlines (room rates start at $154 a night; hotelzoo.de.en).
Photo courtesy of Design Hotels
In the heart of Old San Juan, the boutique and charismatic Hotel Casablanca feels a world away from the sprawling resorts that line the beaches of Condado and Isla Verde. Housed in a circa 1900s Spanish colonial building, the hotel features pop art-infuenced works by local conceptual artist Carlos Mercado (room rates start at $139 a night; hotelcasablancapr.com).
Photo courtesy of Casablanca Hotels/Carlos Maldonado
Sitting on the powdered sands of a far-flung island just off the coast of Mozambique, andBeyond Benguerra Island recently reopened after a top-to-bottom overhaul. Rooms reflect the fishing traditions of the region with exposed beams, evocative of driftwood. They also feature jaw-dropping views of the Indian Ocean and private pools. The resort’s location on a protected marine park island gives you the chance to view animals including dolphins, a variety of turtles and endless game fish (room rates start at $685 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; andbeyond.com).
Photo courtesy of andBeyond
Castle Hill Inn has the hallmarks of a daydream seaside hideaway, including a sprawling oceanview lawn, lobster bakes, individual cottages and a lighthouse. For an intimate stay, choose from the clapboard beach cottages, which sit on a private stretch of Atlantic coastline or a rustic luxe harbor house, overlooking Narragansett Bay and rocky Grace Kelly Beach (named for the star who would sneak a swim off the outcroppings). The true appeal of this property is its simple pleasures — bike riding, lawn games and enjoying the view (room rates start at $425 a night and include breakfast; castlehillinn.com).
Photo courtesy of Castle Hill Inn
In Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, The Farmhouse Inn is a family-owned favorite known for its Michelin-star restaurant and 25 plush rooms. Treatments in the spa incorporate locally grown ingredients like heirloom cider apples, fresh herbs and honey (room rates start at $625 a night and include breakfast; farmhouseinn.com).
Photo courtesy of Farmhouse Inn
Luxe waterside villas, water as clear as glass, dress codes rarely more formal than a sarong — French Polynesia has all the components of a daydream retreat. The big news here comes from the hotel scene, and the most buzzed-about opening was The Brando, a 35-villa resort located just north of Tahiti island. The property is actually spread over 12 islets that used to belong to actor Marlon Brando; the main resort is on one island, while the rest boast the likes of bird sanctuaries, a lemon shark nursery, coconut plantations and pristine private beaches (visit thebrando.com for more info).
Photo courtesy of The Brando
Photo Credit: Momental Designs
Tip of the Day: Choose a fabulous, upscale invitation design, but have it printed on less expensive paper stock to drive down the price. When choosing fonts for your invitations and other print items, check every letter and number to be sure that words and addresses will be legible to guests.
Plus, check out 50 Ideas for Your Wedding Invitations.
The intricate designs and celebration of nature make floral rings an ideal choice for the romantic bride. Floral-motif fans include Penelope Cruz and Nikki Reed. These flower-inspired sparklers are anything but garden variety.
Make your guests feel comfortable stopping by to chat throughout the night by setting up chairs across from your table!
Photo Credit: Kyle and Becky Turnow
Tip of the Day: Starting a new fitness regimen to get in shape for your big day? Take before and after shots in the same outfit to track your progress and see how far you've come!
Plus, check out How One Couple Lost 200 Pounds Together—and Kept It Off.
Tip of the Day: Heirloom items are all the rage right now! Add a sentimental touch to your wedding by incorporating your grandmother's or mother's wedding gown in your bouquet handle design or ring bearer's pillow. Odds are that if they've kept it preserved for this long, they would be honored to have you use it for your nuptials, even if you aren't wearing it. We recommend cutting off part of the sleeve, a section of hem, or a swatch from the back (if it's a button-down corset style) to use for crafting.
Plus, check out 150+ Ways to Make Your Wedding Unforgettable.
Featured: Finest Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
